R' Nota Of Chelm

Reb Nota achieved fame as Rav of the city of Chelm, but as a young man he was a tutor in a small village. Unfortunately, his young charges were slow learners, but Reb Nota did his best to instruct them in the basics of Torah.

It was not long before the householder and his wife discovered that their sons' tutor was a hidden tzadik. One night, the villager's wife was awakened by a strange noise. Following the sound, she found herself in front of the tutor's door. From inside, came the most beautifully sublime sounds of prayer that she had ever heard. From that moment on she observed his every action, and when her suspicions were confirmed, she discussed it with her husband.

The couple was awestruck at their good fortune and felt privileged to support the tzadik in their home. Their only request was that he set aside time to teach their sons how to live as honest and G-d fearing Jews.

Reb Nota agreed, and life continued in this manner until finally his reputation as a scholar and tzadik spread throughout the region. Young scholars from the surrounding towns came to learn from him, and whenever these visitors arrived in their home, the villager and his wife hosted them generously. All this time, the villager prospered in all his business dealings and he became quite a wealthy man.

Reb Nota, however, grew in stature and eventually the day came when a delegation from Chelm offered him the post of rav of that city. By this time his fame had spread far and wide and Jews flocked to him for advice and blessings.

Many years passed and the wheel of fortune spun around, leaving Reb Nota's former employer in the small village on the bottom. One day the husband and wife sat down to discuss how they could deal with their problems. The wife recalled Reb Nota and suggested to her husband that he travel to Chelm and get his blessing. Surely he would recall the myriad of favors they had done for him and bless them and perhaps their luck would turn around.

The villager set off for Chelm, anticipating a warm reunion with Reb Nota. But when he arrived, he found himself just another Jew amid the large group that had assembled there. When he passed before Reb Nota he received the same greeting as every other person. Searching his mind for an explanation, he thought, "Now it is right before the holy Shabbat and the tzadik probably has no time for elaborate greetings. At the Shabbat table he will welcome me far differently."

But when Shabbat had ended, the man had to admit that the warm reunion he had hoped for would not be and his disappointment was unbearable.

When, at last, he passed before Reb Nota to say goodbye, he couldn't restrain himself from making a remark. "Rebbe," he ventured, "I have one important question which is really bothering me, and I would like to ask you to explain it to me." "Please, ask," Reb Nota replied.

"Every day of the year we mention the names of the Patriarchs in our prayers and we list all their merits. When we recite the Penitential Prayers before Rosh Hashana we also mention them, beseeching G-d to remember 'Your covenant with Abraham and the binding of Isaac.' Again on Rosh Hashana and on Yom Kippur we ask for help in the merit of our Patriarchs. Then comes the Ne'ila prayer -- the time when our fates are sealed, and we add something new to our ardent prayers. What new element do we add at this awesome hour? We say to G-d, `The Patriarch Abraham who knew You from his childhood.'

"This is my question: We mention our Patriarchs constantly. Why then at Ne'ila do we mention them yet again. What does this phrase add to everything we said before?"

A smile played across Reb Nota's lips and he replied, "You must have some answer in mind, so please, tell me what it is."

"Yes, this is my answer: At Ne'ila, the climax of the Day of Atonement, we fear the challenge of some Heavenly prosecutor who will say, 'What's so important about these Patriarchs? Had they never existed, the world would still know that G-d is great, that He created and sustains the entire universe!'

"This is why we add these words. Had the Patriarchs never lived, G-d would still be the Creator and Author of everything. But, only Abraham, and no one else, recognized His greatness. It was Abraham who made His existence and greatness known in the world.

"The same could be said of me. Even without me, you would be a holy man. But who ever heard of you? I allowed your name to become known in the world. Why, then, do you not acknowledge my need when I am desperate and in despair?"

Reb Nota's face broke out into a broad smile, for this is what he had awaited from his erstwhile employer and host. "Go in peace, my friend. From this time on, may G-d Almighty cause you to succeed in all that you do."

The villager returned home and soon had regained all his previous wealth. Reb Nota liked to tell the story of this man, remarking on the wisdom of his words. The Chasidim would say that their Rebbe had held himself, hoping to elevate his friend to such a pinnacle of wisdom.